Sporting News examines the biggest college hoops games of the weekend (all times ET):

NO. 17 SYRACUSE AT NO. 5 GEORGETOWN

Syracuse needs to find a way to stop Otto Porter. (AP Photo)

The tip: Saturday, noon (ESPN).

Warm-up drill: This is the final regular-season meeting as conference foes for Syracuse and Georgetown, the teams that formed the fierce Big East rivalry that helped give the league its trademark fire and passion. In the Feb. 23 meeting at the Carrier Dome, Otto Porter looked like the best player in the country—he scored 33 of Georgetown’s 57 points in an 11-point Hoyas victory. That loss came in the middle of a rough stretch for the Orange; Syracuse had lost six of 10 games before knocking off cellar-dweller DePaul by 21 points on Wednesday. For the Hoyas, that was a signature win during an incredible 11-game winning streak that lifted them to the top of the Big East before they lost at Villanova on Wednesday.

Inside stat: 3. The last time these two teams played, four Syracuse players committed at least three turnovers each—Michael Carter-Williams, Brandon Triche, C.J. Fair and Rakeem Christmas—and as a team the Orange had 16 turnovers against just eight assists.

NO. 3 DUKE AT NORTH CAROLINA

The tip: Saturday, 9 p.m. (ESPN).

Warm-up drill: Both teams are radically different from when they played Feb. 13 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The host Blue Devils finally got versatile senior Ryan Kelly back from a foot injury, and he has been nothing short of amazing in his return—54 points and 16 rebounds in two games. Duke again looks like the team that spent the first few months of the season as a national title contender. For North Carolina, the first Duke matchup was the debut of the smaller lineup, with wing P.J. Hairston starting instead of a more traditional power forward. The Tar Heels showed life at Cameron but fell just short; they haven’t lost in the six games since, including home wins against Virginia and N.C. State and a road win at Maryland. With Hairston starting, the Tar Heels have gone from a team praying for an at-large bid to one looking like a lock for the Sweet 16.

Inside stat: 17.6. Since becoming a starter, Hairston has topped the 20-point mark three times in seven games is averaging 17.6 points per game. This, after averaging 12.3 points and reaching that 20-point plateau just twice in his previous 21 games. The Tar Heels are 6-1 and averaging 76.1 points in games started by Hairston. In their first 10 ACC games with Hairston coming off the bench, UNC was 6-4 and averaged 71.4.

NO. 2 INDIANA AT NO. 7 MICHIGAN

The tip: Sunday, 4 p.m. (CBS).

Warm-up drill: The Hoosiers clinched the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday night, when Wisconsin lost at Michigan State. That takes some pressure off, but Indiana still has its sights set on the first outright conference title in 20 years. The Hoosiers squandered their first opportunity to accomplish that with a home loss to No. 14 Ohio State on Wednesday—though they still cut down the nets long after the game finished, in an odd scene at Assembly Hall. But, if the Hoosiers lose Sunday, reaching their larger goal—a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and the preferred spot in the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis—might not happen. The Wolverines still have an outside shot at claiming a No. 1 seed and certainly would prefer that Midwest draw, too. This will be an intense game.

Inside stat: 14.4. Offensively, the Wolverines have the best turnover percentage in the Big Ten at .144 (essentially, they commit a turnover on 14.4 percent of possessions). Defensively, the Hoosiers have the second-highest turnover percentage, forcing an opponent to turn the ball over on 20.4 percent of possessions. On Feb. 2 at IU, Michigan turned the ball over only eight times but still lost by eight. If the Wolverines take care of the ball that well again, they’ll probably win.

OVERTIME

No. 11 Florida at Kentucky—Saturday, noon (CBS). This is an opportunity—playing a highly ranked team at home—Kentucky can’t afford to waste in its quest for an at-large bid.

Minnesota at Purdue—Saturday, noon (Big Ten Network). Suddenly, Purdue is playing well. The Boilermakers won at Wisconsin last weekend and then had a double-digit lead at home against Michigan in the second half before the Wolverines escaped with a five-point win. Minnesota, you’ll remember, lost at Nebraska on Wednesday.

No. 9 Kansas State at No. 13 Oklahoma State— Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (Big 12 Net affiliates). The Wildcats can clinch at least a share of the Big 12 title—they’re tied with Kansas, which plays at Baylor later Saturday—with this victory and take a huge step toward locking up a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Cowboys, though, have only lost twice at home—against Gonzaga and in double-OT to Kansas.

La Salle at No. 16 Saint Louis—Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Network). With a win, the Billikens could clinch a share of the regular-season Atlantic 10 title—they’re tied with VCU, which plays at Temple on Sunday. The Explorers are only a game back in the conference standings; if they win and VCU loses that tough road game (Temple has won six in a row), the A-10 would wind up in a three-way tie.

Ole Miss at LSU—Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (SEC Net affiliates, espn3.com). Another can’t-lose game for Ole Miss, which is just 5-5 since losing big man Aaron Jones to a torn ACL.

Iowa State at West Virginia—Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (Big 12 Net affiliates). The Cyclones came up with a big home win against Oklahoma State on Wednesday and must not undo that by losing at West Virginia.

No. 23 UCLA at Washington—Saturday, 2 p.m. (CBS). The Bruins lost at Washington State on Wednesday and would very much like to avoid a sweep in the Evergreen State.

No. 19 Oregon at Utah—Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network). Oregon squandered its chance to claim the Pac-12 title outright with a 23-point loss at Colorado on Thursday night. The Ducks are tied with UCLA at 12-5 record; the Bruins tip off at Washington a half-hour before Oregon starts its game at Utah.

San Diego State at Boise State—Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Network). Boise State really needs another resume-boosting win. San Diego State must show the Selection Committee it can win road games against quality teams.

No. 24 Notre Dame at No. 8 Louisville—Saturday, 4 p.m. (CBS). Remember what happened when they met on Feb. 9 in South Bend? That five-OT thriller? Here’s hoping there’s at least a fraction of such drama Saturday.

Missouri at Tennessee—Saturday, 4 p.m. (ESPN). Tennessee has won seven of eight, but the Vols’ at-large resume isn’t good enough to back into the NCAA Tournament. They need this quality victory.

Arizona State at No. 18 Arizona—Saturday, 4:30 p.m. (Fox Sports Net). This is ASU’s absolute final last gasp. Lose this game, and all hope of an at-large bid is gone—if it wasn’t already.

No. 4 Kansas at Baylor—Saturday, 6 p.m. (ESPN). The Bears are desperate, needing a signature victory to even get back on the at-large bubble. The Jayhawks need this game to ensure a share of their ninth consecutive Big 12 regular-season title.

Louisiana Tech at Denver—Saturday, 7 p.m. (ROOT). LaTech lost its first WAC game Thursday, at New Mexico State, and a loss at Denver would mean the Bulldogs have to share the regular-season title with Pioneers.

No. 21 VCU at Temple—Sunday, noon (CBS). Temple has won six in a row after an embarrassing loss to Duquesne, and a victory against VCU would all but assure the Owls an NCAA at-large berth.

Illinois at No. 14 Ohio State—Sunday, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN). The Illini dominated the Jan. 5 meeting, running out to an early lead and coasting to a 19-point victory in Champaign. Don’t expect the same result Sunday.

Maryland at Virginia—Sunday, 6 p.m. (ESPNU). Realistically, both teams are in bad bubble shape. A win might not help much, but a loss could be a death blow.